Utility blade dispenser

ABSTRACT

A blade dispenser includes one or more blades slidably received in a housing and biased by a coil spring to one end of the housing which has a slot for removing one of the blades from of the housing. A cylindrical space is formed in the housing and has an inner diameter greater than a distance between the front and the rear panels of the housing for stably receiving the coil spring in the housing, and for preventing the coil spring from being moved relative to the housing. A bracket may be engaged between the blade and the coil spring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a utility blade dispenser, and more particularly to a utility blade dispenser having a simplified configuration that may be easily assembled and operated.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Typical utility blade dispensers have been developed for receiving knife blades, and for allowing the knife blades to be easily fetched. U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,783 to Gringer discloses one of the typical blade dispensers having a track of ratcheting teeth provided in a housing for engaging with the blades. However, it will be difficult to move the blades along the track of ratcheting teeth of the housing.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,042 to Vujovich, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,512 to Vujovich disclose two further typical utility blade dispensers having two rubber bands arranged in a double loop configuration for engaging with and for biasing the blades toward one end of a blade holder. However, the rubber bands may have a good chance to be engaged with and damaged or cut by the blades inadvertently. In addition, it will be difficult to engage or to assemble the rubber bands onto the blade holder.

[0006] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional utility blade dispensers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a utility blade dispenser including a simplified configuration that may be easily assembled and operated.

[0008] The other objective of the present invention is to provide a utility blade dispenser including a spring member that will not be engaged with the blades and that may smoothly force or bias the blades toward one end of the housing.

[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a utility blade dispenser comprising a housing including a chamber formed therein, and including an upper portion having a slot formed therein and communicating with the chamber thereof, and including a front panel and a rear panel, and including a cylindrical space formed therein and communicating with the chamber of the housing, the cylindrical space of the housing including an inner diameter greater than a distance between the front panel and the rear panel of the housing, at least one blade slidably received in the chamber of the housing, and a coil spring received in the cylindrical space of the housing and engaged with the blade, for biasing the blade toward the slot of the housing. The coil spring may be snugly received and retained in the cylindrical space of the housing and will not be moved relative to the housing.

[0010] The front panel of the housing includes a curved recess formed therein for defining the cylindrical space of the housing. The rear panel of the housing includes a longitudinal depression formed therein for defining the cylindrical space of the housing. For example, the rear panel of the housing includes at least two ribs extended into the chamber of the housing, for defining the longitudinal depression of the rear panel.

[0011] A bracket may further be provided and slidably received in the chamber of the housing and engaged between the blade and the coil spring. The bracket includes a peripheral portion having a peripheral wall extended therefrom, the peripheral wall includes at least one notch formed therein for partially receiving the coil spring.

[0012] The housing includes an upper panel having an opening formed therein and communicating with the slot and the chamber of the housing for partially exposing the blade.

[0013] The housing includes a cover attached to the bottom portion thereof for enclosing the chamber of the housing. The housing includes a peripheral swelling extended outwardly from the housing, to define a peripheral shoulder therein and to receive the cover in the peripheral shoulder of the housing.

[0014] The peripheral swelling of the housing includes at least one lock orifice formed therein, the cover includes at least one catch engageable into the lock orifice of the housing, to secure the cover to the housing. The cover includes a peripheral wall having at least one notch formed therein for partially receiving the coil spring.

[0015] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a utility blade dispenser in accordance with the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the utility blade dispenser; and

[0018]FIGS. 3, 4 are cross sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 4-4 of FIG. 2 respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a utility blade dispenser in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing 10 including a hollow and longitudinal chamber 11 formed therein. The chamber 11 of the housing 10 includes a cross section similar to or equals to or slightly greater than that of the blades 12, for slidably receiving the blades 12 in the chamber 11 of the housing 10.

[0020] A bracket 14 is also slidably received in the chamber 11 of the housing 10, and includes a cross section similar to or equals to or slightly smaller than that of the blades 12, for engaging with the blades 12, and for slidably supporting the blades 12 in the chamber 11 of the housing 10. A spring, such as a coil spring 15 is received in the housing 10 and engaged with the bracket 14, for biasing the blades 12 toward one end, such as the upper end of the housing 10.

[0021] The housing 10 includes one end, such as the upper end thereof having a slot 16 formed therein and communicating with the chamber 11 thereof, for allowing one of the blades 12 to be moved or disengaged from the housing 10, best shown in FIG. 4. The housing 10 may further includes a flap 17 extended therefrom, such as extended upwardly from an upper panel 18 thereof, for hanging or carrying purposes.

[0022] The housing 10 further includes an opening 19 formed in the upper panel 18 thereof, such as formed in the front portion of the upper panel 18, and communicating with the slot 16 and the chamber 11 of the housing 10, for partially exposing the uppermost blade 12, best shown in FIG. 2, and for allowing the user's finger to engage with and to move the uppermost blade 12 outwardly through the slot 16 of the housing 10.

[0023] The housing 10 includes a lower portion having a peripheral swelling 20 extended laterally and outwardly therefrom, for forming a peripheral shoulder 21 in the lower portion thereof and communicating with the chamber 11 thereof. The peripheral swelling 20 of the housing 10 includes one or more lock orifices 22 formed therein and communicating with the chamber 11 and the peripheral shoulder 21 of the housing 10.

[0024] A cover 24 includes a peripheral wall 25 extended therefrom and engageable into the peripheral shoulder 21 of the peripheral swelling 20 of the housing 10, and one or more catches 26 extended from the peripheral wall 25 thereof for engaging into the lock orifices 22 of the housing 10, and for securing the cover 24 to the bottom of the housing 10, in order to enclose the lower portion of the chamber 11 of the housing 10.

[0025] The cover 24 includes one or more notches 27 formed therein, such as formed in the peripheral wall 25 thereof, and preferably formed in the front and the rear portions thereof, for increasing the resilience or flexibility of the peripheral wall 25, and for allowing the catches 26 to be easily engaged into the lock orifices 22 of the housing 10.

[0026] The housing 10 further includes a cylindrical space 30 formed therein and intersecting or communicating with the chamber 11 thereof. For example, as best shown in FIG. 3, the housing 10 includes a curved recess 31 formed in the front panel 32 thereof, and includes a longitudinal depression 33 formed in the rear panel 34 thereof, for forming or defining the cylindrical space 30 thereof, and for snugly receiving and retaining the coil spring 15 within the cylindrical space 30 of the housing 10.

[0027] As also best shown in FIG. 3, the coil spring 15 includes a diameter greater than the distance between the front panel 32 and the rear panel 34 of the housing 10, but equals to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter the cylindrical space 30 of the housing 10, for stably receiving and retaining the coil spring 15 within the cylindrical space 30 of the housing 10, and for preventing the coil spring 15 from moving relative to the housing 10.

[0028] The rear panel 34 of the housing 10 may include one or more, such as two ribs 36 extended therefrom and extended into the chamber 11 of the housing 10, for forming or defining the longitudinal depression 33 of the rear panel 34, and for receiving a portion of the coil spring 15. The front panel 32 of the housing 10 may further include a curved fence 39 extended or curved outwardly therefrom for forming or defining the curved recess 31 thereof.

[0029] The lower portion of the coil spring 15 may be stably received or retained in the notches 27 of the cover 24. The bracket 14 may include a downwardly dependent peripheral wall 37 extended from the peripheral portion and having one or more notches 38 formed therein for receiving one or more portions of the coil spring 15. In addition, the blades 12 will not be engaged or contacted with the coil spring 15.

[0030] In operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the blades 12 may be smoothly and stably biased and forced toward the upper portion of the housing 10 by the bracket 14 and the spring 15, and may be disengaged from the housing 10 via the slot 16 of the housing 10. The coil spring 15 may be stably received and retained in the cylindrical space 30 of the housing 10, and may be prevented from moving relative to the housing 10.

[0031] Accordingly, the utility blade dispenser includes a simplified configuration that may be easily assembled and operated, and includes a spring member that will not be engaged with the blades and that may smoothly force or bias the blades toward one end of the housing.

[0032] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A utility blade dispenser comprising: a housing including a chamber formed therein, and including an upper portion having a slot formed therein and communicating with said chamber thereof, and including a front panel and a rear panel, and including a cylindrical space formed therein and communicating with said chamber of said housing, said cylindrical space of said housing including an inner diameter greater than a distance between said front panel and said rear panel of said housing, at least one blade slidably received in said chamber of said housing, and a coil spring received in said cylindrical space of said housing and engaged with said at least one blade, for biasing said at least one blade toward said slot of said housing.
 2. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said front panel of said housing includes a curved recess formed therein for defining said cylindrical space of said housing.
 3. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said rear panel of said housing includes a longitudinal depression formed therein for defining said cylindrical space of said housing.
 4. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said rear panel of said housing includes at least two ribs extended into said chamber of said housing, for defining said longitudinal depression of said rear panel.
 5. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 1 further comprising a bracket slidably received in said chamber of said housing and engaged between said at least one blade and said coil spring.
 6. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said bracket includes a peripheral portion having a peripheral wall extended therefrom, said peripheral wall includes at least one notch formed therein for partially receiving said coil spring.
 7. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes an upper panel having an opening formed therein and communicating with said slot and said chamber of said housing for partially exposing said at least one blade.
 8. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a bottom portion, and a cover attached to said bottom portion thereof for enclosing said chamber of said housing.
 9. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said housing includes a peripheral swelling extended outwardly from said housing, to define a peripheral shoulder therein and to receive said cover in said peripheral shoulder of said housing.
 10. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 9, wherein said peripheral swelling of said housing includes at least one lock orifice formed therein, said cover includes at least one catch engageable into said at least one lock orifice of said housing, to secure said cover to said housing.
 11. The utility blade dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said cover includes a peripheral wall having at least one notch formed therein for partially receiving said coil spring. 